The big deal of Oatey 95 flux is that it won't turn the pipe green afterwards, while the regular fluxes will if they are not cleaned off sufficiently. The #95 flux costs me about 5x as much as the regular stuff, so I just use it on exposed piping, and use the regular stuff on piping that will be enclosed. The product description claims that the #95 flux will never burn away (unlike the #5 flux), which is a definite advantage, especially for soldering novices.

LOL! He mocks everyone so what's new. He usually has a good point though.

So what is the deal. Should I switch?

Tom

Click to expand...

Tinning flux is fer wimps...where can I get some?
Seriously I just wonder if it isn't something intended to appeal to those who don't have alot of experience with soldering...though admittedly if Rugged uses it..I might try it...just maybe...shhh..I didn't say that.

markts30 said:

I use Coppermate flux and silvabrite solder and never have had a problem (that was not my own fault - LOL).

I do think this is going to come down to 50 of one and 50 of another. Everyone will say that one is better than another. The reason that I could give a rats as about what type of flux I get is my g/f dose my ordering and keeps up with my stock. What I get is what I get. I have used a few that I hope I never use again and I told her I didnâ€™t like them.

But as it has been said if you prep the pipe right then it should work just fine. I will say that the final look of the job can be affected somewhat by the flux until you get used to it. For me if I pick up some that Iâ€™m not used to my first 3 or 4 donâ€™t always look the greatest but after that they look fine.

Cool...though it doesn't make that big a difference like you said, it's really the solder itself that makes or breaks it.
Also...HOW did you get yer G/F to help you?!?!
I'd like to know...geesh would be nice if I could get the mrs to help me!!

My g/f dose not work. She keeps up with what I have in stock and doing all of my paper work. Well her job is to keep me working. She is trying to get me to quit my night job and do plumbing full time and to start doing more repair work.

Currently I mostly work on the weekends on new construction. I have 2GCâ€™s that keep me going. The one thing that the GCâ€™s love is that I do most of my work on the weekends; so I can come in and get out with out being in the way. The only thing that kills me is if the HVAC is already installed (this has happened one time on me). The power cables running all over the place is not bad. The crew that dose there houses will not wire the bathrooms and part of the kitchens until Iâ€™m done with my ruff in.

Do what I did...line up as much work as you can for your vacation....see how it works out...also see if you can line up more future work.
I went on "vacation" a few years ago...put in my 2 weeks notice when I came back and have been going ever since.
I NEVER took work from the company I worked for...just started getting more and more calls..to the point that there wasn't enough time weekends/nights to keep up.
Made DAM sure I had a sizeable nest-egg first though.

It's funny that you bring this up. My buddy and I were having this conversation not long ago. Before I started flipping houses I dreamed of one day semi-retiring from my day job and just flip a house a year to keep money in my pockets and maintain a reasonable life style. The problem I see is health insurance.

How do you break away on your own, doing dangerous work, and afford health insurance. My buddy pays nearly $15k for his family.